How technology is revolutionising MICE Events

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According to a prediction by Deloitte, “[Millennials] will make up 75% of the global workforce by 2025.

According to a prediction by Deloitte and this BBC article, “[Millennials] will make up 75% of the global workforce by 2025.” The word ‘Millennials’ refers to the group of people born between the early 1980s to the early 2000s. So, with Millennials, people who in their adult lives have always had internet, making up a substantial part of the workforce, it’s pretty imperative that you are not only up to date on the latest trends for MICE events, but with the ever-evolving role that technology plays in the events. The use of technology in MICE events is no longer optional, but expected. The good news for you, is that technology is meant to make your life as a MICE planner easier — it’s your friend. Want to know how technology is revolutionising the MICE events and how to use it? Read on to to explore some of the findings based on this Mashable article:

All things are going mobile

Having mobile-savvy events has surpassed being a mere trend and having fast, free WiFi at events is expected. If you are not sure about how big going mobile really is, then think about this: according to Ben Grossman and this BizBash article “The majority of digital advertising (62.5 %, according to a recent eMarketer study) will be spent on mobile advertising in 2016.” Meaning that there is no doubt that all your event specifics will have to be on mobile. So how do you do this and what does it mean for you? Grossman states, “That means being Google Maps-friendly, integrating travel details with TripIt, considering geofenced advertising, having a mobile website and a mobile app, thinking about whether your emails are mobile optimized, and much, much more.” While this may seem daunting for you, it’s going to make your life and your job much easier in the future.

Planners are getting creative with social media

By this stage, chances are you have already used social media in some capacity for your MICE events. Social media sites serve as the perfect place to market an event, post event info, update attendees on any event changes, among many other things. Now many planners are taking the use of social media a step further “To place more control of events in their audience's hands” where some events allow the attendees to choose the panelists. Attendees can also use Twitter to post questions to the speaker in real time, or event planners can use social media ‘hide and seek’ competitions to draw participants to certain areas of the event they would like to highlight.

Attendees no longer want to be ‘passive’

Not altogether new in the industry is the shift that has taken place in attendees themselves. With available technology out there, they no longer want to be passive listeners at an event, but active participants. You need to find a way to connect attendees, and their personal information, in a way that engages them as active participants — whether by beacon technology or some other targeting device. According to the article, "The expectation for attendees is that they can be engaged. From the easy stuff — polling, contests, social curation — to environmental changes, such as how IBM has changed their product-demonstration approach at events, or a recent augmented-reality experience we created for UPS … to nuances like RFID tags that personalize digital signage, people expect to see themselves as part of an event." This kind of approach can even lead to more personalisation in events.

Apps are becoming more integral

We already know the benefits of using apps for MICE events — programmes, pamphlets, lists (etc.) that all used to be on paper have now gone paperless, which is giving rise to more eco-friendly events. Certain apps also allow attendees to connect with other event attendees and a major plus for planners is they contribute to smoother events overall. For example, if information changes, you can send a notification to all the attendees at the same time informing them of the change. According to Event Stuff “Mobile event apps will mature into full-featured event intelligence and data analytic platforms” into the future.

Tech you can wear is getting even bigger

In the not too distant future, ‘wearable tech’ is going to be the norm at MICE events. Things such as electronic wristbands, name badges, wearable beacons and even ‘smart’ watches are are here to stay and have huge capacity for evolution. From paying for things with wristbands, to capturing information, these gadgets could be hugely useful into the future.

Augmented reality is becoming a key player in events

More and more planners are looking to incorporate augmented reality and event activities. According to Karen Shackman and the article “While GPS and geocaching are still popular for scavenger hunts, augmented reality has proven to be a huge step forward in location-based mixed-reality games for corporate team building”.

Drones and virtual reality are making waves

In recent years, event planners have started making use of drones for the unique picture opportunities they allow, especially for big outdoor events. But even more powerful than that, as the article outlines, “Drones and drone-inspired technology may also help remote attendees experience the event online, through interactive and immersive first-person views.” This coupled with virtual reality not only allows people who were not able to attend the event, still to experience it, but for those who did attend to revisit it over and over again.

The thing with MICE events, is that they are typically only as good as the provider used to host the event. For a provider that goes above and beyond when it comes to any event, and is abreast of all the latest technology trends, contact us. Our portfolio of gorgeous hotels in Calpe provides ample choice for incredible locations, and our highly skilled staff will be able to assist you with any of your event-planning needs.